Proteins
Proteins are energetic specialists and they are inevitable for the functions of our body. They occur in every cell and mostly make up more than 50% of their dry weight. Where those proteins come from and how many of them we need will be explained in this short article.
What is a protein?
A protein is a macromolecule, which means that it is a chain of many atoms, that, when folded together, equal one particle, that executes very specialized functions for our body. Some proteins serve as transporters, in order to, for example, forward oxygen from A to B, others can assist in defending from germs or at contracting muscles, or they serve as a catalyst to speed up processes. The special thing about them is, that their functions are always specific and purposeful.
Which proteins do I need?
For the healthy adult there are eight proteins at this point in time, which are classed as crucial. That means, that the human body is not able to produce a sufficient amount of them via biosynthesis from other substances, but still depends on them. Those crucial proteins are named isoleucine, leucine, lysin, methionine, phenylanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine. <sup>1</sup> All of them are depicted in BERTRAND in their recommended amount.
Where do proteins come from?
The proteins exist in good biological availability in natural ingredients, mainly in oat, almonds, flaxseed, sunflower seeds, coconut and in powdered milk. We added a bio rice-protein, gained from brown rice, to our vegan version due to the lack of powdered milk, in order to fit all the requirements to the essential proteins.
What is the required amount for me?
At this point in time nutritional scientists recommend a daily amount of 0,61g for every kg of bodyweight (RDA), according to different institutes. <sup>2</sup> A human weighing 75kg needs 45,75g per day, according to this measurement. We added another 25% to our daily dose, in order to cover a higher level of activity with 60g of proteins.
1 Protein and amino acid requirements in human nutrition, Report of a Joint WHO/FAO/UNU Expert Consultation (PDF; 4,2 MB), S. 245. http://whqlibdoc.who.int/trs/WHO_TRS_935_eng.pdf
2 Recommended Dietary Allowances: 10th Edition. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK234922/#_ddd0000067_
Athletes often use the term BCAA. This is an abbreviation for Branched-Chain Amino Acids, which consist of valine, leucine and isoleucine. Those are three of the already mentioned crucial amino acids, that are included in BERTRAND.